NVIDIA + Win7 + Dual Monitors = Frustration

I had no issues whatsoever when I was running WinXP Pro. I have Dell Vostro 220 running Win7 Ultimate with EVGA GeForce 9500GT running dual Samsung 2494's. I have installed the latest nvidia drivers. I am able to get cloned displays, but not extended display. And everytime I reboot, no settings stick, even the resolution. It looks as if I'm running in Safe Mode after a reboot. Please advise.
Thanks,
Chad

After every reboot, I need to set the resolution all over again. And I am not able to select to extend the display over the 2 screens, it will only let me clone. Anyone else ever seen this?
Thanks,
Chad

Still looking for suggestions.
Thanks

Is anything flagged as having problems in device manager? Did you run your Windows Experience Index, I didn't get Aero until I ran it at least once. You might try installing the latest chip-set drivers available for your motherboard. Are you setting up the extended desktop in the windows interface or the Nvidia control panel? I've always done it from windows and not had any problems. I'm running a 220GT on windows home premium x64 with two I-Inc 19 LCD's.

Nothing flagged in device manager. I have run Windows Experience Index. Doesn't work no matter if I use the windows interface or the NVIDIA control panel. Is it possible the Samsung 2494's could be the problem?

What does WEI score for Graphics, and Gaming Graphics and if you view the detailed performance and system information does it list the correct video card? If your PC has onboard video, is it disabled in your BIOS? Both monitors are connected to the 9500GT?

Graphics is 5.5, Gaming Graphics is 4.9. Details list correct video card. BIOS is showing the main display to be PCI-Express. Both monitors are connected to the video card. And when booting and while in BIOS, both monitors are displaying and cloned. Once it gets into windows, the cloned display is no longer there and the one display that is showing defaults to a reso of like 800x600. I then have to go in and set the reso to 1920x1080. It does this every time I reboot.

OK , I'm 5.4 and 6.3 with a 220GT, so your's sound about right for a 9500GT. It's happened to me once were WEI hiccuped during the test and my graphics came back with a score of 1.0 while gaming graphics was a normal 6.3. AERO wouldn't work until I ran it again and got my 5.4 score back. If you go to Devices and Printers do both of your monitors show up, and do they show as 2494's? If they don't you may have to hunt up drivers for them. They call them drivers but it's actually just an inf file that defines all the supported resolutions. Other things to try would be to run directx diagnostics and see if it flags anything. You might even want to download the latest version of directx and install that. Are you running the latest motherboard and video card drivers for your system?

maybe run this, Solve Driver Problems, Fix Crashes - Driver Cleaner
and then re-install the latest drivers again.

I've been running duals since August (GTX285) and now triples (added a 9600GT) for the past 2-3 weeks.

Zepher said:

maybe run this, Solve Driver Problems, Fix Crashes - Driver Cleaner
and then re-install the latest drivers again.

I've been running duals since August (GTX285) and now triples (added a 9600GT) for the past 2-3 weeks.

Click to expand...

I've used DriveSweeper, which is a free driver cleaner, and still getting the same results. I did not like the ideal of paying to get something that should work in the first place. And if that did not work, then I'd still be out the $ and have the same issue. Is it supposed to work any better than Drivercleaner?

CEV said:

Zepher said:

maybe run this, Solve Driver Problems, Fix Crashes - Driver Cleaner
and then re-install the latest drivers again.

I've been running duals since August (GTX285) and now triples (added a 9600GT) for the past 2-3 weeks.

Click to expand...

I've used DriveSweeper, which is a free driver cleaner, and still getting the same results. I did not like the ideal of paying to get something that should work in the first place. And if that did not work, then I'd still be out the $ and have the same issue. Is it supposed to work any better than Drivercleaner?

Click to expand...

Oh, I thought I linked you to a free program, my bad.
I've never used any of the driver cleaner type programs personally. so I can't really comment on how good/bad they work.

CEV, you can try this:

Uninstall Nvidia driver, all of them, restart, boot into windows, run CCleaner/DriverSweeper, get rid of the residual files, DO NOT INSTALL JUST YET, another restart. Now you may install Nvidia driver.

zzz2496

Ps. I've been running triple since 2006, never had any problems (see my specs).

I have not had an issue with dual monitors (aside from a bad cable which took forever to figure out).

As zzz2496 said, try removing and reinstalling the drivers (the way he said).

If that fails to fix it (or try before) hit Windows+p to see if you can change the display settings to dual display.
You may also see if you can change it in the NVidia control panel.

~Lordbob

Well, I've tried the suggestions in the previous 2 posts and it is still not working. I do know it is not a cable issue because the "cloned" display setting works. I know it is not an issue with the Dell Vostro 220 because the "extended" display setting worked when I had XP Pro on there. Did a clean install of Win7 Ultimate and that is when I was no longer able to use the "extended" setting.

I am using Drivesweeper and CCleaner when uninstalling and reinstalling the driver. Is it possible that after uninstalling and restarting that Win7 is installing it's own driver for the card? How can that be turned off? I'd like to try that and then uninstall and reinstall again.

This is what I just tried:

ClickStart and type gpedit.msc in the Start Search and pressEnter.
OnceLocal Group Policy Editor is open navigate to:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Driver Installation
On the right pane, double click on“Turn Off Windows Update Device Driver Search Prompt” and selectEnabled and click OK.

OnceLocal Group Policy Editor is open navigate to:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > DEVICE Installation > Device installation Restrictions
On the right pane, double click on“Prevent Installation of Devices not described by other policy” and selectEnabled and click OK.

After changing these 2 settings, I uninstalled the driver and software, ran CCleaner and Drivesweeper, and rebooted. Win7 did not auto install the driver. The card was flagged in Device Manager. While trying install the driver, I get an error indicating "installation of device is forbidden by system policy. Contact your administrator." I am administrator on this computer. When I change the settings back in gpedit and reboot, then the driver auto installs, and I am still not able to extend the display.

I really like Win7, except for this issue, but before too long I am going to give up and revert back to XP. At least then I can use both screens and be more productive.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chad

CEV said:

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chad

Click to expand...

Hello Chad;

The computer I am using temporarily has a pair of GeForce 6800 Nvidia cards insrtalled with room for 4 monitors the way it is set up now (no SLI), although I only have three monitors. I had no issues with the Nvidia drivers but did with system (bios) resources.

Would you be willing to post some screen shots similar to these?





Type device manager in the Start Button Search Box for the first one, and right click on the desktop and select Advanced for the other three.

If needed, here is a way to take screen shots and add them to your posts:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/51160-screenshot-upload-using-mwsnap.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9717-screenshot-paint.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-how-post-screenshot-seven-forums.html

Cheers!
Robert

Instead of using the group policy editor try this
Press the Windows key and the Pause/Break
Then go to Advanced system properties
Under the Hardware tab click on Device Installation Settings
Then in the next window that opens select

"No,let me choose what to do" and
"Never install driver software from windows update".

I do this and can still install drivers manually. Keep in mind I don't think this will stop windows from installing generic drivers it already has on the install media. There are some that have to be installed just for windows to boot up and get to your desktop.

Before you go back to XP I think you should try one more clean install of windows 7. You may even want to try doing a repair, I think you just got a bad install. Is your Windows 7 an original DVD or a copy?

Appreciate the help. Here are the screenshots.

Those are great Chad, perfect. It would appear you have drivers, etc. setup correctly? Please look here; right click on the desktop and select "Screen resolution". Are you able to select "Extend desktop to this display"?



Next open the Nvidia Control Panel, either through the Control Panel, advanced settings, or from a quick link in your tab bar. Are you able to "Set up multiple displays"?



Also please notice the Profiles menu. After you have settings the way you want them, save a profile. Then when you restart, if your settings are absent, just select the "Detect" button on the image above this one, and Nvidia should apply your profile. Keep you from re-configuring your video settings every time.

One last question: which driver version is currently installed?
ie: 195.62_desktop ... 32bit / 64bit ... etc?

Cheers!
Robert

As a test you might want to un-install that LogMeIn Mirror driver or the application that loads it. You might be able to just temporarily disable it with msconfig.